Air Canada suspending flights between Vancouver and Delhi due to Ukraine conflict
Air Canada will suspend direct flights between Vancouver and Delhi this summer due to the difficulty of avoiding Russian and Ukrainian airspace en route to the Indian capital.
The airline announced the suspension of flights, which will begin June 2 on the Vancouver-to-Delhi route and June 4 in the opposite direction, in a statement on Wednesday.
"The route is operationally constrained because of extended flying times and a refueling stop that is required due to the current flight paths taken to go around Russian and Ukraine airspace," the statement reads.
"Summer wind and weather conditions in South Asia are expected to compound these constraints, making the route unviable during this period."
Vancouver-to-Delhi flights are scheduled to resume on Sept. 6 and Delhi-to-Vancouver flights are scheduled to resume on Sept. 8, Air Canada said.
Passengers who have already booked flights during the affected time period will be automatically rescheduled onto alternate flights, the airline said, adding that those who purchased through third-party travel agencies or websites should contact those providers directly for their new itineraries.
Other Air Canada flights between Delhi and Canada will continue to be offered during the suspension. The airline said flights from Delhi to Toronto and Montreal use different flight paths that are not constrained by the same factors as the Vancouver route.
"Air Canada continues to monitor global situations very closely and may reinstate its Vancouver-Delhi route earlier if conditions permit," the airline said.
Air Canada introduced direct flights between Vancouver and Delhi in 2016, but the route has been suspended more than once since then.
In 2019, political tensions between India and Pakistan led to the latter closing its airspace for several months. And, during the Delta wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government suspended direct flights between Canada and India.
Between Air Canada and Air India, there are typically eight non-stop flights from Vancouver to Delhi each week during the summer, and 10 in the winter, according to Vancouver International Airport.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. teen with Canada's first human case of avian flu in critical condition, Dr. Bonnie Henry says
The teenager who is sick with the first-ever human case of avian influenza acquired in Canada is in hospital in critical condition, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ in Trump administration
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” in his second administration.
Here's why thieves may be stealing butter in Canada
The case of the missing butter remains a mystery, but some have ideas on what's behind the unusual crimes.
Former B.C. premier John Horgan dies at 65
Former B.C. premier John Horgan, a popular leader renowned for his affable personality and dedicated public service, has died
Alleged serial killer previously pled guilty to 2018 attack on Waterloo, Ont. bus
The woman accused of killing three people in three days in three Ontario cities also previously admitted to attacking strangers on buses in the Region of Waterloo.
Air Canada to add new routes to U.S., Europe and North Africa in summer 2025
Getting to destinations in the U.S., Europe and North Africa is about to get easier, as Air Canada announced it will be increasing flights to a number of new destinations this summer.
Body found in Montreal park identified as cryptocurrency influencer
The body of a man that was found in a park in the Ahunstic-Cartierville borough last month has been identified as cryptocurrency influencer Kevin Mirshahi.
History in Halifax is slowly being wiped off the map: study
Saint Mary's University archeologist Jonathan Fowler is sounding an alarm with a new study. According to Fowler, the centuries-old architecture that adds to Halifax’s heritage and historic vibe is slowly being wiped away as the city grows.
2-year-old gorilla 'Eyare' dies unexpectedly at Calgary Zoo
A young gorilla at the Calgary Zoo has died. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo announced a member of its western lowland gorilla troop passed away unexpectedly, in a news release Tuesday.